SOIL SURVEYS.

Waikato Times, Volume 117, Issue 19604, 17 June 1935, Page 2

SOIL SURVEYS.

WORK IN NEW ZEALAND. CHEMICAL INVESTIGATIONS. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) NELSON, Saturday. With the object of facilitating a general soil survey of New Zealand, the Department of Scientific and industrial Research has seoondecl to the Cawlhron Institute Dr. J. K. Dixon, who has been engaged during tlio past year on soil and chemical studies relating to the. incidence of stock ailments in Southland. During the past four years the cooperative soil survey work of the department of Scientific and Industrial Research and Hie Gawihl’on institute has made great progress, and soil surveys, which' have bceh conducted in the central territory of tlio North Island, Taranaki, Walpa County, Waikato, Ashburton County and Canterbury, have proved of great Value ill the elucidation oi' mineral deficiency, ailments in stock and in niatutrial treatment of the land. Soil maps, which have been prepared by tho field workers of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research provide a permanent basis for tho conduct of field experimental work. The Investigation of stock and soil problems and tho Improvement of farm practice In tho future economic utilisation of New Zealand's' soil resource will become of ever-growing Importance, and any programme of agricultural development must necessarily be based on the ascertained knowledge of soil types and properties. Dr. Dixon will greatly strengthen the chemical sido of the work, which is handled by tho Cawthron Institute. At the present time soli surveys are proceeding in the Waipa County, Waikato, in the Ashburton County, Canterbury, and at Te muka, Soutli Canterbury.